Automatic braking device for vehicles



Patented Jan. 12,1926."

aseaaez' enemies x'imrrs, oFBnooKLYN, NEW Yomr.

- AUTQMATIC BRAKINQQDEYICE FOR VEHICLES.

Application led February To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ancianos KUnrrs, a citizen of the V'United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Braking Devices-for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bumper-operated clutch and brake mechanism for trucks and street ears by means of which the brake is set, the clutch disengaged, and the-transmission thrown into neutral position when the bumper or fender of the vehicle is struck.

The present invention is a further development of one .disclosed in the previous patent granted to nie on July 22, 1924, No. 1,502,145, and'it has foranobject to improve the o eratiiig means there disclosed, by cans ingt e operation of the mechanism by coinpressed air, instead of by springs as in the said former patent.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide'a slidable bar that operates the various parts and is connected to the piston of an air cylinder to be moved thereby, another object being to relieve the' driver of the need of setting the device by compressing the springs as in my Jormerpatent.

For further comprehension of the invention, and for the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing,

and to the appended claiinsii'i which the various novel. features of the invention are Fig. 1 of the drawing is a plan view showing an automobile'chassis having the invention applied thereto.

Fig 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view, .with certain parts in elevation, showingsr the air cylinder and associated parts.

Fig. El is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 1.

'Fig l is a detail side elevational vicw/ on the line 4-1 ot Figure 1, showing the. brake operating' means.

Fig. is a det-ail transverse sectional view 'of one of the'valves controlling the passage of airto and froin'the cylinder.

Fig. (l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail Side elevation view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. l. Fim 8 is a detail transverse sectional view takerion the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

r2, 1925. semi Noaeez.

In' thegdrawing the vreference numeral 10 indicates the front axle of an automobile, and 11 the rear axle, the front wheels being shown at 12 and the rear wheels at`13. The bumper is shown at 14 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars la and la connected to one another at pointsalongtlieii length as' at 15 and arranged one in freni; of the other. The bumper is mounted on the forward ends of a pair of tubular members lt'that are slidable in suitable bearings 17 adapted for-fixing on the usual side frame members of the automobile by their upper inverted i.sliape extensions 18. Fixed4 at their forward ends to to the front bar of the bumper are plunger rods'20 that extend rearwardly through the members 16 and have olisets- 21 on their rear ends. Surrounding each of the rods 20 are the coiled compression springs 22 and 23 the former of which bears between the front bumper bar 14 and the flanged forward end 16 ot the adjacent member' 16, while the latter bear between the said forward end and a collar 25 fixed on the rod. rlhe flange 16 l on the end of the member 16 retains the bumper against displacement theretrormthis flange beingV positioned in front ot the rear bumper bar 14a, the latter having an opening therein through which tue said member projects.

Extending transversely oi" the automobile, just to the rear of the members 227B, is a transverse rock shaft 3() which is rotatably mounted iii depending frames 1S and on which is fixed behind each oi said members an upwardly projecting arm 31 that noi'- mally projects behind the offset. 21, thisarm havingl a' longer forked projection 31" that engages in front of the said offset. The shaft S0 has also fixed thereon a depending arm Eli-l o which is attached one end of a rod or link 34 that extends rearwardly and itltached at its rear end to the operating handlei of a valve 36 on the cylinder through which the various parts are oper- "This cylinder is shown at 4() and is mounted adjacent the rear end of the automobile and suitably supported on the chassis. In this cylinder is a piston vll to which is attached a piston rod l2 that project-s from the cylinderand has a rack bar 43 attached thereto, in alineinent therewith, this rack bar being guided in a bracket 44 on the chassis. The rack bar 43 engages a gear pinion 46 fixed on a transverse shaft 47 a pair of spirally grooved drums or pulleys 48 thereon. To these drums 48 are attached the rear ends of the ropes that extend forwardly around horizontal and vertical guide pulleys, 50, 50 and connect to the collars 51 on the rear ends of the tubular plunger members 16 before referred to, so that when the drums are caused to rotate in one direc-- tion `the bumper memberv is-gdrawn back- Ward and when the drums are caused to rotate in the opposite direction the bumper member is drawn forward.

For supply of air to the cylinder 401 provide chassis, and which may be su plied with compressed air from'a pump .indicated at`61, and connected to the main -d'riv'e shaft 62 of the automobile to be operated thereby and controlled by the driver who allows a sufiicient supply of air to fill tank and then disconnects clutch 61 when'a' pressure Yauge indicates a full` supply in tank 00. Or the tank may be supplied in any suitable manner. The' tank, is provided with a safety valve 60 and "a 1 air of outlet ports controlled by valves 64 and '65 from which .pipes 66 and 67 lead to opposite' ends of the cylinder 40, a supply pipe 68 leading from the pump to the tank, this pipe preferably having therein a one way valve 69. 'An air pressure gauge may be supplied on the daslr board of the automobile and connected with a pipe 70 leading from the tank 60. The valves 64 and 65 on the tank are provided with operating handles 64 and 65 to which a cable 72 is attached, this cable being connected to a handle 73 to be moved thereby to close the valves, tension springs 74 each attached at one end to the respective valve handles and at their other ends toV the chassis lacting to retain the valves normally OPEN.

Slidably-f-mountcd in suitable bearing elements. in opposite ends of the cylinder' 40 are the plunger rods 78, 78 whose outer ends are connected' to the respective rock levers 79, 79 fulcruincd between their ends on brackets S0 projecting. Afrom the cylinder', those levers being connected also, by the short links Sil to other rock levers 82, 82. also fulcrumedbetween their ends to the 'said brackets 80, Connected to these levers are the links S3, Sil which connect also to the handles 84, S4 of the control valves S5, 85. The handle 84 has connected thereto a tension spring 86. The levers- 82 and: 82 are connected b v a `flexible cord 87 'which pass over suitable pulleys 87. Each valve,

comprises a plug 88 in a suitable casingf).

and having a T-shaped port 90 extending transversely therethrough which may be made to register` b v rotation of the ,plug

either with the feed pipe, or fanV exhaust port 91.

alined rod or bar 93 which has a tank 60 suitably mounted on"- the' Connected to the opposite end of the rae bar 443, before mentioned, to that to whlc the piston rod 42Yis attached, is anothe rigid finger 94 projected therefrom and arranged to shii the transmission. and clutch* as above se forth, and is also provided with collars 9 and 93a arranged to control the gas suppl from tank 93h and the ignition switches i casing 63 respectively, this feature of th device being describedlin my above mer tioned patent. To operate the brake I pr vide the following means:fFixed to tt shaft 47 on which the drums are mounted a gear pinion 95 that meshes. Witha se; mental gear 96 on aV stub shaft 97. Tl shaft 97 has fixed thereto Aan arm 98 throng which is an opening or' eye that receives or end of a rod 99 Whichexteuds rearwardly 1 connect to an arm' v100 on the shaft 101th: operates the brakes 102. The rod'99 ma have a head 103 on its forivard end, Whi a' compression or cushion spring 104 prete ably 'surrounds vthe rod between the sa head and the arm 98, a collar 105 on the rc limiting relative movement of the latt with respect to the arm 98. I also provide usual hand operating lever 106 -Which act ates shaft 101 thru a connecting link107. In' the operation of my inproved devi when the bumper is struck by some obje the plunger rods 20 are moved backwai and their offsets 21 bear on the forked ari 31 causing the shaft 30 to be rocked and t rod 34 to be pulled. Valve 36 bei] thereby opened, the air enters the cylind 40 and causes the' piston 41 to move to t opposite end thereof, imparting moveme to the rack bar 43, -wtih a consequent Win ing of the cords 49 on the drums 48 'draw the Whole fender or bumper backwzu is caused to move forward returning t bumper, clutchg'brake, transmission :u

ignil ion switch to their former positions. lThen lhegpll-unger rods 20 nuove forwa their offsets 2l engage the-arm elements andthereby cause the rod 34 to bemmto close `the valve 36. `Siniultaneously t movement of the plunger rod 78 .closes val 85, thru. 1evers79 and 8 2' and links 81 a 83', at thesame time returns plunger r 78 tofnormal position thru the connecti cord 87, ready for the next operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimv as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as ollowsz- 1. In avehicle, amovable bumper bar, a brake, aclutch, and transmission control elements, a cylinder, means 'for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, av piston rod connected to said piston, elements ,on said piston rods whereby the above mentioned parts are operated, and means connected to the said bumper bar for controlling admission of air to one en'd of the said cylinder.

2. In a vehicle, a movable bumper bar, a brake, a clutch, and transmission control elements, a cylinder, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, piston, elenientson said piston rods whereby the above mentioned parts are operated and means connected to the said bumper bar for controlling admission of air to one end of the said cylinder, said means comprising a plunger rod connected to the bumper bar, a rock shaft with which said rod is operatively engaged, a valve controlling the admission of air to' the said cylinder, andan o erative connection between the said rock s aft and valve.

3. Ina vehicle, a movable bumper bar, a brake, a clutch and transmission control elcments', a cylinder, means for supplying coinpressed air. to said cylinder, a, piston -in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, elements on said, pistonrods whereby the above mentioned garts'are operated, and

.means connected to thesaid bumper bar for controlling admission/f air to one end f the said cylinder, said I means. comprising a plunger rod connected to the bumper bar, a rock shaft with which said rod is operatively engaged, a valve controlling the admission of air to the said cylinder, and an operative connectionbetween thev said rock sha-ft and valve, and a plunger rod mounted in the end of said cylinder and adapted to be engaged by the said piston-to shut off the air supply thereto, when the piston reaches the end of its stroke.

4. In an automobile, a movable bumper 1 bar, springs engaged behind'said bar to cushion the same, a pair 'of plunger rods extending rearwardly .from the said bumper, a cylinder means for supplying compressed air to `said cylinder, a valvefor controlling the admission of air to the said cylinder, operative connections between' said plunger .rods-and the saidvalve 'whereby the lat-tei' is caused to open .u qn movement Ibeing imparted to the said, amper, a piston in said cylinder. a iston-'rod' connected to the said cylinder an formed with rack teeth, a gear pinion engaged withfsaid rack teeth, a shaft 0n which said gear pinion is mounted, a pair a piston rod connected to said v .where of drums on said shaft, and wires connected at opposite ends to the said drums and the said bumper to draw the latter backward.

'5. In an automobile, a movable bumper bar, springs engaged behind said -bar vto 'cushion the same, a pair of plunger rods extending rearwardly from the said bumper, a cylinder-means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, a valve orcontrolling the admission of air to the said cylinder, operative connections between said plunger rods and the said valve whereby the latter is caused to open u on movement being imparted to the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the said cylinder and formed with rack teeth'a gear pinion engaged with said rack teeth, -a shaft on which said gear pinion is mounted, a

pair of drums on said shaft, and wires con-l nected at opposite ends to the said drums and the said bumper to draw the latter backwardsaid bumper being provided with .rearwardly extended tubular elements towhich the said wires are attached.

6. In an automobile, a movable bumper bar, a brake, a clutch, and transmission control elements, a cylinder, meansfor supplying compressed air to saidcylinder, a piston insaid cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston, element-s on said piston rods y the above mentioned parts are operated, and 'means connected. to the said bumper bar for controlling admission of air to one end of the said cylinder, and a manually controllable valve for admitting air to the other end of the cylinder.

7. In an automobile, a niovablebumper bar,l

a brake, a. clutch, and transmission'control elements, a cylinder, means -for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, a pist-ouin said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said' piston, elements on said piston rods whereby the above-.mentioned parts are operated and means connected to the said bumper bar for controlling admission of air to one end ot' the said c'z'ylinder, and a manually controllable 4valve for :idmittinglair to the other end ofthe cylinder, and a plunger rod slidablein one end of the cylinder to be engaged b valve wien the piston reaches one end of the cylinder.

8. Inan automobile, a movable bumper bar, a brake, a cylinder, means for supplying compressed air to said cylinder, a piston the said piston to close the said.

in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to fiao bei', e-biakefao linder, means for snpplyng compressed air to said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, episton rodQ connected to said piston' and .formed with' ia-ck teeth', a

pinion engaged with said teeth, a shaft. 'on

which seid pinion is fixed, a second pinion fixed on seid 'shaft, e gear segment engaged by' seid-second pinion, en arm eien'ientA rigid sadrod having a resilient with simi' 'geen segment, vand .a rod iittuehed at onel end to said arm and operatiyeiy connected with the brake to operate the latter,v

yielding` 'connee-- tion with the' said arm;

' In testimony whereof signature. j

' f i ANGELOSKURTIS.

I beve affixed my 

